A Bad Day Does Not Make a Bad Life by Shelby

A Bad Day Does Not Make a Bad Life by Shelby - June 2021 Scholarship Essay

“A bad day does not make a bad life”. These are powerful words that were taught to me by the woman who I consider to be the most influential teacher I've ever had. Her name is Lisa Dresch. She self-titles herself as the “Art Mom”, which I think is a description that’s perfectly fitting. She served as my high school art teacher for the past three years, helping me improve my drawing and painting skills exponentially.
Art has been my favorite hobby ever since I was a young girl. Throughout high school, she kindled this hobby into something far bigger, fueling that flame within me until art became my burning passion. Mrs. Dresch helped me discover what mediums I work best with, pushing me to construct pieces that portrayed original ideas and complex meaning. She encouraged me to challenge myself with my work, pushing me to enter contests and try to make each piece even better than the last. Every piece of art that I created with her guidance made me feel fulfilled. She made me realize that creating art is my purpose in life. Not only did she make me realize that I want to pursue an artistic career, she also opened my eyes to the beauty of education. As I watched her nurture, console and mold her students into amazing young adults, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I was positive that in the future, I too wanted to show young people the healing powers of art. As I venture into my Art Education degree, I will always remember how Mrs. Dresch treated her students.
Inside and outside of the classroom, Mrs. Dresch treats others with kindness and generosity. She far exceeds the role of “Teacher”. She is a friend. Family. A welcoming face that anybody can turn to. Her classroom acts as a place of refuge for students who have a rough home life or have a hard time making friends. Tucked in a little corner of the room is the “Dresch Café''. It’s a little table with a microwave, a teapot, a coffee maker, and snacks, all free of charge. She strongly believes that no child should ever be hungry, so she uses money out of her own pocket to feed kids throughout the day. On the bulletin board in her room hangs hats, gloves and scarves, free to take for any student who can’t afford warm winter clothes. Another admirable feature that is scattered throughout the art space is the “Mirrors of Encouragement”. Each mirror has a kind message on it, such as “You look cute today!”, “Smile!” and “You are beautiful”. One day I walked into that room feeling incredibly insecure, but when I spotted one of those mirrors, I felt a bit better. By reading that message, I was reminded that I am beautiful. I was reminded that I matter. Mrs. Dresch inspires students not only to be kind to others, but to also be kind to themselves.
She genuinely cares about her kids. She wants to help them in any way possible and is willing to be vulnerable to teach them valuable life lessons. On the last day of each semester, she does a short segment called “Life Lessons With Mrs. Dresch”. In the segment, she opens up to her students by telling them about her unplanned pregnancy, how she got fired from what she thought was a secure job, and how she ultimately felt like she was at rock bottom. She takes a moment to honor the students who she’s lost to suicide, and urges her current students to never lose hope. She tells them that “A bad day does not make a bad life. A bad month or even a bad year does not make a bad life. Don’t give up. Things will get better”.
Her willingness to use her personal experiences to console younger people is amazing. She has taught me that in order to grant a child an enriching education experience, you must be rewarded their trust. You must be willing to help them learn and grow in subjects that aren’t strictly classroom related.
Because of Mrs. Dresch, I can’t wait to become an art teacher. I’m going to instill my passion into my pupils in a way that makes them excited to come to school. I’m going to do my best to act as a form of solace when the struggles of life are overwhelming. I’ll be an “Art Mom”, just like her.